anded
greater sacrifices or were more precarious. And he did believe that
such an article as that would have the effect of shutting against
him the gates of that dangerous Paradise which he desired to enter.
He had no great claim upon his party; and, in giving away the good
things of office, the giver is only too prone to recognise any
objections against an individual which may seem to relieve him from
the necessity of bestowing aught in that direction. Phineas felt that
he would almost be ashamed to show his face at the clubs or in the
House. He must do so as a matter of course, but he knew that he could
not do so without confessing by his visage that he had been deeply
wounded by the attack in the _People's Banner_.

He went in the first instance to Mr. Low, and was almost surprised
that Mr. Low should not have yet even have heard that such an attack
had been made. He had almost felt, as he walked to Lincoln's Inn,
that everybody had looked at him, and that passers-by in the street
had declared to each other that he was the unfortunate one who had
been doomed by the editor of the _People's Banner_ to seek some
obscure way of earning his bread. Mr. Low took the paper, read, or
probably only half read, the article, and then threw the sheet aside
as worthless. "What ought I to do?"

"Nothing at all."

"One's first desire would be to beat him to a jelly."

"Of all courses that would be the worst, and would most certainly
conduce to his triumph."

"Just so;--I only allude to the pleasure one would have, but which
one has to deny oneself. I don't know whether he has laid himself
open for libel."

"I should think not. I have only just glanced at it, and therefore
can't give an opinion; but I should think you would not dream of such
a thing. Your object is to screen Lady Laura's name."

"I have to think of that first."

"It may be necessary that steps should be taken to defend her
character. If an accusation be made with such publicity as to enforce
belief if not denied, the denial must be made, and may probably be
best made by an action for libel. But that must be done by her or her
friends,--but certainly not by you."

"He has laughed at the Vice-Chancellor's injunction."

"I don't think that you can interfere. If, as you believe, Mr.
Kennedy be insane, that fact will probably soon be proved, and will
have the effect of clearing Lady Laura's character. A wife may be
excused for leaving a mad husband."

"And